Typewriters in France, plus a hint

Dear fellow typospherians, here is a photo report from a collectors' meeting in France (23 April 2016):
http://www.typewriters.ch/blog/2016/04/typewriters-in-beaucourt/

Now here is the hint. Please consider adding my other typewriter blog to your blog roll. I might use it more in the future, as it is solely dedicated to our machine of choice:
http://www.typewriters.ch/blog/

Cheers, and happy collecting!

Happy Easter!

The Typewriter Revolution reaches Europe

By not-so-secretive channels, this exciting book reached Switzerland today... First look: awesome! I cancelled all appointments for the day. You can reach me in the Kaffeehaus, reading reading reading.

Beautiful MON BUREAU Covers 1913/14

Have a look at these. I found them while digging in the Basel library's hidden treasures.

Doing so, I also discovered the amazing illustrator William Fell. Remark: only those illustrations labeled W. Fel can clearly be attributed to this master.

Is it "Fell"or "Fel"? According to the editorial of the No. 47 issue of Mon Bureau, it is "Fell". However, the images are signed "Fel".

A google search yields quite a few results for Fel's illustrations. Often, they are of erotic nature. However, I couldn't find any biographical material on this artist. Hopefully someone reads this and leaves a comment.

April 1913 cover of Mon Bureau. This French office magazine was edited by G. & M. Ravisse in Paris. Is it Monsieur Gaston Ravisse himself on the cover? Compare with the photograph below. I think there is strong similarities, down to the pince-nez (weak but visible on the photograph)

This is Hermes, or Mercury. Very fitting for a business magazine. Hermes holds the telegraph wires and literally uncovers or holds his protective hands over a contemporary office. W. Fel's signature on the lower right side.

There we go: Hermes, adorned with the very Mon Bureau magazine, looks triumphantly on what might be St. Sebastian, speared by a giant quilt, symbol of the old office world.

Sexy Hermes - please notice the winged heels - overlooking the city and the port, sends out the merchant ships. In his left hand, the herald's staff with two intertwined snakes.

September 1913 issue, William Fel differently. A serious yet confident-looking business man.

The first issue of 1914. William Fel cover again, Hermes / Mercury again, but a different atmosphere. A serious-looking God of commerce, with belching smokestacks in front of a fire-red sky.

The February 1914 edition. An interesting compound of a sprocket, symbolizing mechanics, and Hermes' symbols, the herald's staff and wings. 

Gaston Ravisse again? Yes I think so!

An animated business meeting. One of the participants, however, is pensively looking at the opposite factory.

Looking for the shiny white factory on the hill on the horizon.

A good working climate keeps the smokestacks smoking!

Early Typospherians

Here they are: the crème de la crème of the Early Typosphere... the year is 1913. Taken at the Frankfurt fair, in the premises of Büro-Bedarfs-Rundschau, we see, from the left to the right: O.F. Graband, director of advertising of "Mon Bureau"; Jacob Fresineau, director of the Russian magazine of office supplies (it doesn't give the exact title); G. Ravisse, editor of "Mon Bureau"; Mario Boni, director of "Ufficio Moderno" (I do correct the spelling); Carl Labin, editor in chief of Büro-Bedarfs-Rundschau; Dr. Hemes, director of "Typewriter Topics"; Dr. von Schack, director of "Büro-Bedarfs-Rundschau".

Friedrich von Schack must have been an interesting figure. I wonder if he really was director of the BBR in 1913 - that would have meant a lot of work, as in 1913, Schreibmaschinen-Revue was still running. Schreibmaschinen-Revue was founded by F. von Schack in 1904. I haven't seen all volumes yet, but have scanned volume 1907/08 recently. It results that in 1907 Schreibmaschinen-Revue was issued at a biweekly basis, and that the rhythm augmented to one issue per week as of 1st January 1908... very very busy indeed.